International Contact

My conversation partner is Sarah Collins who is a kindergarten teacher in Porirua New Zealand, kindergarten is children ages 3-5. She works in a Kindy (She said Kiwi’s are known for shortening many words) at Titahi Bay Kindergarten where the government pays for 20 hours a week for each child. There is a requirement that 80% of teachers are qualified, the Wellington Kindergarten (who she is employed by) is 100% teacher qualified. Because there have been recent cuts to ECE the Kindergartens are struggling. They ask for each family to give a substantial donation, but if a family can’t afford it they are still welcome. She gave me a great website with a video from the Wellington Kindergarten although this is not her specific Kindy. www.wn-kindergarten.org.nz

Sarah said they do not have serve any children in poverty at her Kindy, but there are others that do, she didn’t know much about the statistics, to be honest I didn’t know about my area until the recent assignment. She did say that many in poverty are Passifika families. These are Pacific nations people from the Pacific Islands, Samoan, Cook Island Fiji, Tokelau and Niue. The Wellington Kindergarten has begun a new initiative Etu Ao that is home-based care for Pasifika families. One Kindy offers lunches to help offset poverty; they will soon use that Kindy to house medical care and they have a van to bring families to the facility. 

I enjoy talking with her and hearing who she is through her written words for example; "That's not the Kindy's philosophy, just my prattle." I look forward to discussing more issues and learning. Below is a picture I got off the internet of her area. 

Global Fund for Children 2013 Winter Newsletter

This newsletter has a CEO Corner; it describes a grassroots program that was supported by the (GFC) recently. They are going through a financial appeal where people can learn about support opportunities; the latest grants are featured as well as a spotlight program that has been granted funds. There is an article on human trafficking and what GFC is proactively doing as well as projects around the globe.

This quarterly newsletter contains efforts for children by their own community members. In the audio interview Dr. Grace spoke of looking at your community and its divers situations to be proactive rather than reactive (Laureate, n.d.).  I read about a man, Daniel Tillias who opens his doors children in Cite Soleil a slum in Port-au-Prince Haiti, know for its poverty and gang violence. He combines sports, a community building and education as a refuge for children. With a small amount of money from GFC he was able to reconstruct two homes of children he serves, repair 15 tents where the local disabled community lives and repair the organizations community garden and more (Lindsey, 2013)

This was a man who grew up in this community, he knew the needs of the children and area and was able to accomplish so much. This is a way to support a community at its heart, by supporting its own members. This is an amazing story of being proactive, which brings home (literally) the idea that change and progress starts with you in your community, this is grass roots.    Here is the link https://www.globalfundforchildren.org/2013-winter-newsletter/

References:

 Laureate, (n.d.)"The Effects of Changing Demographics and Diversity on Children, Families, and the EC Field". Conversation with Dr. Cathy Grace (Director of Early Childhood Development, Children's Defense Fund).

Lindsey, K. (2013) 2013 Winter newsletter. Global Fund for Children. Retrieved from https://www.globalfundforchildren.org/2013-winter-newsletter/ 

Expanding Resources & Professional Contact

Expanding Resources:
I chose The Global Fund for Children because of their focus on grassroots programs. I also found some great book resources for my program of children's books, where some of the proceeds support The Global Fund. This organization strives for sustainability, through their Scout, Support and Strengthen strategy. They Scout developing areas that serve the most disenfranchised children, then they support local leaders to implement programs that will work under their specific circumstances and thirdly they support the leaders and community to network and become sustainable in their efforts.

Personally because of my environmental background, to create something that is sustainable is to truly make a difference. This new found website will be an amazing tool to gain perspectives and take me out of my comfort zone. When I hear of human trafficking where children are essentially in slavery, my heart breaks and I am very uncomfortable. But avoiding those issues does nothing in the way of making a difference and that is my mission in personal and professional life.

Professional Contact:
Establishing professional contacts has not been as easy as I hoped, but I love this connection and will continue working on making it happen. The list of contacts provided in the course work have come back as undeliverable, except the International Step by Step contacts. Unfortunately non of them have responded. I have a coworker from New Zealand, she gave me some contacts but unfortunately they are on summer holiday. I just realized that I have been communicating with a early childhood professional some time ago through my favorite website Children & Nature Network, I have just contacted her in Scotland and am looking forward to asking questions and creating a dialog about issues and trends. I also know a preschool teacher in my community from Bulgaria, this contact just popped into my head as I've been brain storming, better late than never.

My Supports

What support means to me. Support is not doing it is being, it is the comfort knowing I am not alone. The comfort that my decisions are my own as well as my mistakes and in that, I am surrounded by people and places that are forgiving and encouraging. After all we are all learners and perfection is reserved for the divine.

My personal support comes from my family and loved ones and the air I breathe. So no matter where I am if I have my family I am home, if I can be outside and feel the sun, see some green and breath deeply, again I am home.

The abbreviated version of daily support is: I awake to wagging tails of my dogs, sleep eyes and hair on end from my husband, and visits or phone calls almost daily of my children and grandchild, this is food for my soul and gives me great comfort. As I head to work my day is mostly outside no mater what the weather is, if I am inside I am surrounded by large window, this is food for my senses.

I am supported in every step I take and cannot possibly list them all. From family and friends, animals, nature, people I work with, the children and families I serve my community and in my education I am supported. Only when I support others I support myself.

The challenge I choose is being confined to a wheel chair. Because I have said I am supported by every step I take, I thought how would I survive without that step that I have interpreted as freedom. It is difficult for me not to be independent although I heavily rely on my support system. The support I would need of course would be physical, but mostly creating an environment that I could do as much for myself as possible. I would need emotional support helping me make the shift of what my new skill set is, learning how I can be useful in my community and feel a sense of purpose in my life. 

My Connection To Play

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” 
― Rachel Carson

(As a 4 or 5 year olds child to have an adult excited about rediscovering nature and be as enthusiastic as a child about the wonders and endless creative play is it for me. When that adults allows the safe space for a child to explore on their own or accompanied, is play.)

“Play is the highest form of research.” ~ Albert Einstein.

Tools to extend play out on the woods, scarves and buckets

In the scenario, a reflection of play as a 4 or 5 year old, I would choose to be in the woods but would want an adult in the area for the secure feeling. The items I would like to have with me are a bucket or two and many old scarves and maybe an old spoon. When it comes to constructing a fort with large sticks if my friends and I couldn’t figure out how to tie scarves to secure the sticks we would ask for help. The scarves could become capes, shelter, blankets, bandages for injuries or anything. The buckets could be stools, salad bowls, tables, the skys the limit. But for the most part I would want the adult to be there but allow dramatic play to create itself. 

As a child this experiences would be thrilling, the unknown of what will develop in our play, the independence to create and be, and the mystery and discovery of what nature reveals. This is how play was for me as a child and all the feelings come back, the love of natural spaces has stuck and the freedom has left me feeling that everything is a gift. Play now a days does not always have the gift of time as it did in my childhood, but my mothers job was at home with the children. When my children were growing up of course I was a mom, but I worked so time was more limited, nature play was very intentional and took the place of soccer practice and other organized activities.  Also the secure natural spaces are becoming fewer and fewer, if city playgrounds were converted into naturalized play spaces children would have the same feeling of being in the woods close to home. Children don't need a big space, they need time and safety to explore those natural spaces because in play "its only natural".

                                                   

Relationship Reflection

It is difficult for me to identify the positive relationships in my life, because through the years they have all become positive very important partnerships for me. 

My husband and children have been and amazing wealth of love lessons and encouragement, now that they are all adults our relationship has shifted to mutual caring and joy. As my family grows so does the love and respect.

Another powerful relationship is one with my brothers and sisters, this is my oldest sister Jamie with whom there is a special bond beyond any friendship. Now that our parents have past the evolution I see in my 7 brothers and sisters is beautiful, we are becoming the elders. Jamie and I share the spirit of the earth and yes that is a wolf by her side, we frequent a wolf rescue among other profound experiences.

My backyard. Nature is a relationship that I can not do with out, it is stunning, harsh, it moves slowly, it calms me, it breaths life into me and it inspires me. Nature keeps me flexible, challenged and I want to share this relationship with everyone I possible can. No matter what your backyard looks like nature exists in every blade of grass, rock and insect. 

My husband of 30 years. This is a relationship that no words do justice, there are challenges sometimes on a daily basis, there is growth and comfort within each year and there is support beyond my wildest dreams.

I have learned through the years that each relationship I encounter is a positive one, I know that sounds unrealistic but true. I learned the most for a coworker that was so very hard to work with, I had to let her go and the challenges continued. My co director and I did mediation with this teacher and it was a very unpleasant experience but the lessons learned still teach me to this day 10 years later. I learned nobody can ruin my day, nobody can make me feel bad, and nobody can take my power away. I am in control of how I take each experience, I cannot control the experiences, but I can choose to learn from them. This is something I realized no matter how much experience I have or how much knowledge I acquire I am always a student learning. Each day is filled with a lesson in humility which I bring to my relationships especially in my work with young children, families and colleagues.  This is not to say I do not stand up for what is the best practice for young children, my goal in life is to view different perspectives and not judge, that is a tall order and as I said before an on going lesson.

Quotes and Well Wishes

“Play, Incorporating Animistic and Magical Thinking Is Important                       

Because it:                                                                                                                                  

Fosters the healthy, creative and emotional growth of a child;                                   

Forms the best foundation for later intellectual growth.                                            

Provides a way in which children get to know the world and creates              

possibilities for different ways of responding to it.                                                      

Fosters empathy and wonder.”  

“By suggestion and example, I believe children can be helped to hear the   many voices about them. Take Time to listen and talk about the voices                                     

of the earth and what they mean-the majestic voice of thunder, the                       

winds, the sound of surf or flowing streams.”

                                                                        Rachel Carson~ “A Sense of Wonder"

 My Dear Colleagues, 

I have learned a lot from your perspectives and the experiences you have brought to this learning adventure. You are perceptive smart women with a passion for wanting the best for children and families. As pictured above my family just grew with the birth of my first grandchild four weeks ago and my passion is fueled more than ever. I wish you all the amazing experiences, challenges and joy children bring. Thank you form the worlds children.